One critical piece of legal evidence in many Indianapolis truck accident investigations is data from the truck’s black box. The device, similar to flight data recorders installed on airplanes, records the truck’s speed, driver inputs, and other vital information whenever the truck is operating. In a truck accident claim, black box data can help a personal injury lawyer understand what was happening at the time of the accident and who could be liable.
What Is a Black Box?
A truck’s black box, also called an event data recorder (EDR), is a device that’s part of the engine electronic control module (ECM) on most commercial vehicles. The device records important information about the truck’s operations. Its primary purpose is to collect tamper-proof, objective data to help investigators understand what happened during an accident. Black box data can provide helpful evidence for proving fault in truck accident cases.
The ECM controls various functions, such as fuel injection, ignition timing, and emissions, ensuring the engine runs efficiently and meets environmental standards. It constantly monitors the engine’s operations and makes adjustments as needed. If something goes wrong, electronic control modules can store error codes that help mechanics diagnose and fix problems.
The EDR component of the ECM records certain data when an event like a crash occurs. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Event data recorders typically save data on factors such as pre-crash vehicle dynamics and system status, the driver’s actions, crash severity, restraint deployment, and post-crash data.
What Kind of Data Does a Truck’s Black Box Record?
A truck’s black box collects many different kinds of information from the vehicle’s ECM and electronic logging device (ELD), which in turn records data like engine hours, vehicle miles, and the location of the vehicle at a given point in time.
Some data that truck black boxes commonly record about a truck’s operation include:
- Speed
- Brake usage
- Engine RPM
- Steering angles
- Seatbelt status
- GPS location
- Acceleration and deceleration
- Impact force
- Cruise control status
- Time and date
What Is the Legal Importance of Black Box Data in Truck Crash Investigations?
Black box data is often crucial during negligence determination in truck accident claims because it provides specific and unalterable information about what happened before, during, and after a crash. The data can shed light on the cause of the accident by showing the truck’s speed, brake usage, and other vital factors.
Lawyers can use black box data to determine if the truck driver caused the crash or if the truck had mechanical issues, which may indicate that the truck’s maintenance crews or manufacturer contributed to the accident. Black box data is vital in holding all liable parties responsible for their contribution to the accident.
Are Black Boxes Mandatory Equipment in Commercial Trucks?
Trucking regulations require most commercial vehicles to have ELDs installed. However, the requirements for EDRs are not as strict, so not all commercial trucks have them. ELDs can also provide essential information for investigating a truck accident, making them crucial pieces of evidence.
Talk to Our Indiana Truck Accident Lawyers Today
It’s vital to act quickly after an Indiana truck accident to preserve the truck’s black box data. Without black box data, proving who caused the crash and holding them accountable may be much more challenging.
The Indianapolis truck accident lawyers at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC can gather and preserve evidence from the truck’s black box, helping us pursue your case to its fullest. Get started today by calling us or completing our contact form for a free consultation with an Indianapolis truck accident lawyer.
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